> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # SMPD captain heads for Inglewood to head up department - URL: https://www.smdp.com/smpd-captain-heads-for-inglewood-to-head-up-department/ - Published: 2007-08-16T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T02:35:16.000Z - Author: Kevin Herrera - Tags: Crime, Santa Monica, #archive-import *SMPD captain is moving up* PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY One of the Santa Monica Police Department’s highest ranking officers has been selected as the new chief of police for the city of Inglewood. On Tuesday, the Inglewood City Council made SMPD Capt. Jacqueline Seabrooks the city’s top cop, making her the first female police chief in the history of the Inglewood Police Department. Seabrooks, 45, will be one of only 15 women statewide to hold the top law enforcement job, and only the second woman in Los Angeles County to be named chief of a municipality, according to Inglewood officials. She replaces retired Chief Ronald Banks, who left the department in May of last year. In a candid interview Wednesday in her office at the Public Safety Facility, Seabrooks, who currently oversees the Office of Criminal Investigations, said she had mixed feelings about leaving the SMPD, where she has served for the last 26 years and became the first female officer to earn promotions to the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant and captain in the department’s 111-year history. “I am completely excited at the thought of leaving for a variety of reasons,” said Seabrooks, a resident of Inglewood. “I’m excited about the thought of leaving here because I leave behind the opportunity for us to hire another police officer, promote a new sergeant, a new lieutenant and a new captain,” Seabrooks added.“That, right there, is a positive thing … I’m really excited about moving forward because it is a new chapter in my career, probably one of the final chapters, and I’m looking forward to that kind of a challenge.” But Seabrooks said she would be remiss if she didn’t mention the many friends and colleagues she would miss when she departs. During her time on the force, Seabrooks was very active in the community, becoming a faithful supporter of the Police Activities League’s (PAL) youth programs for many years. She has run the Los Angeles Marathon with the PAL youth five times and bicycled it twice. In her spare time, when she is not teaching college-level criminal justice course work, she serves as a volunteer tutor through a literacy program hosted by the Santa Monica Library. “I know I’ll definitely miss the people and the personalities and the style that we know is Santa Monica,” Seabrooks said. “I’ll always have a connection here. There are people in this organization and municipality that are like family.” Seabrooks said she will remain engaged, but whether or not she can be as involved in the community here as she is now is hard to tell. “I am going to some place new and it’s going to require a lot of attention,” Seabrooks said. “But my support will always be here, whether it’s vicariously or directly will have to remain to be seen.” Some of her colleagues in the SMPD said they would miss Seabrooks tremendously. She has been described as a valuable member of the force who has been instrumental in guiding the SMPD’s response to gang violence. Under her leadership, the Office of Special Enforcement’s Traffic Section expanded its focus to include grant programs enabling the implementation of various traffic-safety education programs. Seabrooks, who holds both master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Public Administration and is a graduate of the FBI’s National Academy and the Senior Management Institute of Police, was also instrumental in developing and providing training to the men and women of the SMPD in the area of cultural competencies. “Capt. Seabrooks’ leadership and influence have been far reaching in the law enforcement arena, in this organization, and certainly, in the community,” SMPD Chief Timothy Jackman said in a press release issued Wednesday. SMPD Lt. Alex Padilla said he was “sad” to see Seabrooks leave because of her involvement with youth and her experience and leadership within the department, “but at the same time, it’s good to know that the city of Inglewood is going to be getting someone who has a lot of experience, someone with character and strong leadership qualities to help Inglewood move forward.” Elected officials in Inglewood said they chose Seabrooks because of her achievements and her leadership skills, noting that nothing is more important than the safety of their residents and visitors. City Councilmembers there also praised the stewardship of Interim Chief Julius I. Davis, “who provided skilled and stable leadership during some challenging times for the Inglewood Police Department.” There were those in Inglewood who would have preferred the council pick an insider from the department, however, Seabrooks seemed unfazed by the initial reaction. She said on Wednesday that she didn’t plan to push a certain agenda, but rather wanted to reach out to her command staff and the community, making decisions collectively. “Of course, I’m concerned about being an outside person, but I think at the end of the day, what they want me to do and what they want me to come in with is an open mind,” said Seabrooks, who moved to Inglewood four years ago. “I’m not going to be loud or brash or obnoxious, because I’m not loud, brash or obnoxious here... depending on who you talk to,” she said with a laugh. “In the end, we know we all want the same thing. We want to feel safe, secure and know that when the police are called they are going to come and we are going to do the right thing.” Seabrooks expects to begin her tenure as chief in October. In the meantime, she said she will continue to work hard for Santa Monica and is in the process of setting up a cold case unit. *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 16, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/081607.pdf?ref=smdp.com)